Minimal pairs pronunciation game helps students practice minimal pairs of vowels in a playful way. Minimal pairs are pairs of words that differ in one phoneme and have distinct meanings. This game helps practice minimal pairs that differ in the vowel sound: /ɪ / vs. /i:/, colloquially known as “short” and “long” “i”. Continue Reading …
Lesson Plans
ED or ING adjectives lesson plan
ED or ING adjectives lesson plan helps students understand this quite tricky grammar point and use ED and ING adjectives correctly. It offers speaking and grammar practice. It is suitable for groups intermediate and above. It is a perfect for Conversation classes as it offers plenty of student talking time.
Used to, be used to, get used to speaking activity
This activity helps practice through speaking three often confused grammar structures: used to, be used to, get used to. The aim is to show the difference in meaning and structure by allowing students use used to, be used to, get used to to describe habits or changes in their personal lives. It is suitable for upper-intermediate or FCE students.
Phrasal verbs about relationships: speaking activity
The aim of this activity is to introduce four phrasal verbs to talk about relationships and practice using them in context. To work with this set of phrasal verbs you might want to choose some activities I described in my previous post about teaching this language point. Continue Reading …
Big life decisions speaking activity
Students make four big life decisions by coming up with lists of pros and cons for different situations. By doing so they can also revise the use of conditionals (first and second), modal verbs used to speculate (may, might, could) and linking devices (however, although, on the other hand). Suitable for adult and teenage students, levels intermediate and up.
Teaching phrasal verbs: phrasal verbs about money
A lot of my students claim phrasal verbs are the most difficult part of any given English course. They are not sure how to learn them, and even less sure how to use them. As a result, they try to memorise long lists but never risk using any in speaking or writing. I wrote more on how to approach learning phrasal verbs in my guest post for Keep Smiling English here. Continue Reading …
Moral Dilemmas speaking activity
The aim of this speaking activity is for students to discuss what they would do facing different moral dilemmas. It promotes student creativity, teamwork, and allows for revising/consolidating using second conditional and language of speculation. Suitable for levels intermediate – advanced, adults and older teenagers. Continue Reading …
Using WILL for offers, promises, decisions, threats
In this activity students need to come up with various sentences using WILL to express promises, offers, decisions and threats in different contexts. Suitable for students who have already worked with the concept of using WILL, pre-intermediate and intermediate levels.
FCE word formation card game
This FCE word formation card game helps to revise and consolidate forming verbs, adjectives and adverbs from nouns; the skill that comes in handy when dealing with FCE, Use of English, Part 3. Competition, time limit, and peer correction all make it a fast-paced and engaging activity for both adult and teenage students.
Reporting Verbs Bingo
This bingo game helps to revise sixteen different reporting verbs and use them to practice reported speech. There is also a bonus gap fill activity included. Suitable for intermediate, upper-intermediate, and FCE students. It works best with bigger groups.
